Stories that rocked Western Visayas in 2007
One of the most unforgettable scenes of 2007, assault troops
entering the broken glass door at the back of the new Iloilo
Provincial Capitol.
Capitol siege
Western Visayas was jarred from the holiday slumber at the beginning of the year when heavily armed elite policemen stormed the Iloilo provincial capitol on January 17 to implement a dismissal order of the Ombudsman against Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas Sr.
Tupas along with then provincial board members Domingo Oso Jr. and Cecilia Capadosa were ordered dismissed for alleged illegal disbursements to the board members' league of the province.
The assault only stopped when the Court of Appeals in Cebu City issued a 60-day temporary restraining order against the enforcement of the dismissal order.
The assault was widely criticized for the use of excessive force especially after video footages showed policemen dispersing supporters of the governor and heavily armed members of the Regional Mobile Group breaking glass doors, shoving employees and Tupas' supporters aside and pointing guns at the governor's children.
The Philippine National Police, Department of Interior and Local Government and other administration officials, however, commended the policemen involved in the assault and defended the use of force in implementing the order.
The Court of Appeals later issued a permanent injunction against the implementation of the dismissal order. The injunction was subsequently affirmed by the Supreme Court.
The Commission on Human Rights and the Office of the Ombudsman had conducted separate investigations on the incident but they have failed to release their findings almost a year after.
Oil spill aftermath
The effects of the August 2006 oil spill in Guimaras continued to plague residents and communities on the island-province this year.
Fishermen complained of lower fish catch and tourism continued to be down.
Marine scientists said their studies showed a 65 percent drop in fish abundance from the waters of Guimaras following the oil spill.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and mangrove experts have also recorded the dying of at least 600 mature mangrove trees in Guimaras.
In March, the remaining oil from the sunken tanker Solar I was retrieved by a salvage unit, which confirmed that almost all of the 2.1 million liters of bunker fuel being transported by the tankers were already spilled.
Delays in the disbursement of the bulk of the P867-million rehabilitation fund hindered the implementation of the rehabilitation projects. At the end of the year, a portion of the fund was expected to be reverted to the national treasury because of the failure to release and utilize the funds.
Attack on activists
In April, Ilonggos were shocked with the abduction of prominent activists Maria Luisa Posa-Dominado and Nilo Arado and the shooting and wounding of human rights worker Jose Ely Garachico in Barangay Cabanbanan in Oton town, Iloilo. This was the first incident of armed attacks against activists in Panay in recent years.
The victims remained missing at the close of the year even as their families have filed cases against police and military officials. Military and police officials have repeatedly denied involvement in the case.
Spurious cataract claims
Late this year, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) filed administrative cases against four Negros Occidental-based doctors and three hospitals in relation to irregularities in insurance claims for cataract surgeries.
PhilHealth and the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology also came out with guidelines and policies to prevent the abuse of the government insurance system.
The measures were taken after reports and complaints of alleged irregularities in the recruitment of patients for cataract surgeries and the filing of claims involving hundreds of millions of pesos.
Party turned tragedy
In November, tragedy struck a victory party of winning Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) candidates at a beach resort in Barangay Barosbos in Carles town, Iloilo. Six young girls aged 13-17, all residents of the neighboring Balasan town, drowned amid the revelry.
Pro-coal vs. anti-coal
The construction of a 100-megawatt coal-fired power plant in La Paz District became a contentious issue between those supporting the project and those against it.
Opponents of the project led by the Catholic Church, environmental groups and health professionals have launched a campaign against it. But at least 10 business organizations in Iloilo and other groups have endorsed the construction of the coal plant.
Light behind dark clouds
Amid the despair and conflicts, there were more than enough reasons to be hopeful.
A Gawad Kalinga village was launched in February for church workers of Iloilo in Barangay Buntatala in Jaro District in Iloilo City.
In June, the P8.759-billion new Iloilo airport was inaugurated, boosting tourism and investments prospects in Western Visayas.
Business prospects in the region also got a boost with the acquisition of the site of the old Iloilo airport by Megaworld Corp. for P1.2 billion. Megaworld has announced that it will build a business park at the 54-hectare property in Mandurriao District and will pour in an initial investment of P1.5 billion.
These preceded the Iloilo Investment Forum, which gather investors to highlight Iloilo's advantages as a tourist destination and an economic investment site.
In August, Aklanons came in droves to welcome the unveiling of the monument of their prized son, Jaime Cardinal Sin on Aug. 31, the late prelate's 79th birthday.
The 22-foot monument and the 13.5-foot bronze statue stands at the public plaza of Sin's hometown New Washington.
Aklanons also united in opposing the operation of the Small Town Lottery in the province. The provincial board voted to reject the proposal to operate the numbers game after various sectors including the Kalibo Diocese campaigned for its rejection.
The quest for justice for slain Aklan broadcaster Rolando Ureta drew closer this year with the arrest of a suspect and the surrender of another in November and early December.
Amid threats of intensified effects of global warming and pollution, residents of Sta. Barbara town have shown optimism and pioneering spirit after the town passed an ordinance to regulate the use of plastic bags, one of the world's leading pollutants.